Ever been to a Free Store? A Free Store is exactly as it sounds like, a store where you come in browse around and just pick up and take what you want for free. The concept was introduced to me a few years ago during a Car-Free Day event on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, BC where bunch of organizers set up an area where they displayed stuff like clothes, books, CDs, small appliances, furniture, etc and anyone could come in and browse and take what they wanted. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Those who need will grab stuff and those who can afford to, have a place to be generous.

I’ve become aware of a group of people who have set up a free store event just off Main St. in Vancouver close to the holiday season for the past couple of years. They start by asking people on their Facebook list for donations for the store; items that are used yet in good/decent condition. They pick the items up, categorize them then display and offer them for free at the event.

Last December the store was giving away gym equipment, books, clothes, accessories, etc. They even had an electric keyboard, a digital camera, an Epson CX series ink jet printer, a blender/mixer, and several flashlights (unused and still in their original wrappers). I walked away with a sewing machine, a couple of flashlights, a hardcover kids book, a Swiss Army travel bag, floor mats for my partner’s martial arts dojo, a CD of meditation music, a The North Face toque, a Firefly hat, and several small jewelry boxes. All of them were in excellent condition and in working order. The sewing machine needs a new foot but otherwise it works perfectly.

Interested in going to a Free Store event? See their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8847330980&ref=ts